Prayagraj has seen significant agricultural export activity under the state government’s Agriculture Export Policy-2019. In the last three years, the division exported more than 29,792 metric tonnes of agricultural products. This effort has resulted in foreign exchange earnings exceeding Rs 123 crore.
Giving a break-up, Chandra said 27,925.7 metric tonnes of rice were exported from Pratapgarh to Nepal, generating business worth Rs 112.5 crore.
Rice accounted for the largest share of exports from the division during this period, said assistant agriculture marketing officer (Prayagraj Division) Dinesh Chandra. These efforts are yielding positive results,” he said. “State govt has strengthened coordination between farmers and exporters while encouraging farmers through training on export procedures and subsidies at various stages.
New Agricultural Export Policy Boosts Farmer Engagement
Under the recently announced agricultural export policy, farmers, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and agri-entrepreneurs can access subsidies of up to 50%. This initiative is designed to enhance the agricultural sector’s export capabilities.
The policy includes financial incentives for developing agricultural export clusters, offering up to Rs 6 lakh for areas ranging from 50 to 100 hectares. Additionally, it provides 40% of the project cost for packaging, branding, and quality improvement, capped at Rs 15 lakh. For developing export infrastructure, the policy allocates up to Rs 25 lakh.
Chandra, a key figure in the initiative, stated, “The policy has changed the outlook of farmers towards exports.” He noted that over 5,000 farmers and FPOs in the division are now indirectly linked to global markets, reflecting a significant shift in engagement with international trade.